Igniting-tape and process of producing same.



No. 871,696. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907. A. T. HERB. IGNITING TAPE ANDPROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6,1907.

JW RMK To all whom ityma'y concern:

UMTED STATES PATENT o Io 1 ARTHUR 'r. HERE, on DEnVER,coLonAnd'issieuon'ro THE RAPID FIRE FU'sE IGNITERCOMPAN'Y,OF'DENVER'OOLORADO.

IGNI'rmdrAPE- AND ZEROGESS or rnonucme SAME;

' Be a known that I, ARTHUR T. HERB, a

' citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county ofDenver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Igniting-Tapes and Process of'Producing Same; and I dodeclare the following to .be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to'which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had -to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this'specification. i

My invention relates to an igniting-device and a process of producingsame and has for 7 its" object the construction of an inflammasivecompound.

ble, rapidly burning, explosive, tubular igniting tape, which isprepared by coating a ribbon of cloth, paper or other suitable material'upon one side thereof, with an inflammable, explosive compound, 7which coated ribbon is then formed by anv suitable means into a tubulartape of indefinite length, and secured in this form by pasting thefabric, preferably, with a liable, waterproof, adhe- Iii forming theribbon into a tubular tape the side which is coated with the inflammablecompound is disposed upon the inner side of the tube, while the side ofthe fabric forming the outer tubular surface of the tape may be coatedwith any suitable waterproof compound, rendering the tape impervious tomoisture, which-property is found necessary to meet the requirements of"assured thorough combustion of the ignitingtape.

practice in some of the arts to which the use of the igniting tapepertains. .This exterior waterproof coating also reduces the probabilityof conditions arising, tending to impair the explosive qualities of theinterior combustible coating, because of hygroscopic properties,possibly incidentthereto. It is also desirable that the waterproofcoating shall possess inflammable properties, whereby it will aid theinterior compound in the I This tu ular tape is formed with an opencenter circulating vent or flue which aperture, together with the gasesofcombustlon, generated and exploded upon ignition of the tape, causesthe same to burn with greatrapidity and burst asunder'the fabric. shellof the tube, flashing flames and sparks 'tionon hne 90- 90 0 PatentedNov. 19,1907. v

and assured ignition of combustible objects to which a length or circuitof the igniting tapeis suitably attached.

My invention 1s found to be of greatutility in the art of blasting, andis particularly (SO adapted to usein conjunction with the ordinarypowder-core blasting fuses. By using a length of the igniting tapenecessary to connect the same consecutively .with a round of any numberof fuses by suitably .at-

taching the tape to the splitend of each, the simultaneous ignition ofthe same is effected. by the rapid combustionjand explosion of thetubular tapethroughout its entire connected'length. The ignition tapebeing v wa terproofed', it effects the same positive Signitionof fusesin wet mine workings, as in dry. My igniting tape can, inlike manner, beutilized. in the lnstantaneous ignition of set fireworks pieces, beingmade upon automatic continuous process machines, in indefinite lengths,of uniform combustible force. and of quite pliable texture, it isespecially adapted to be connected throughout a circuitous line toobjects such as the profile hghts offigure pieces,- portraits, etc.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is .a side view of one form ofconstruction of the tubular igniting tafpe. Fig. 2 is a cross sec- Fig.

sponding portion of the tape shown in side and edge view in Fig. 1. Fig.5 is a plan view of a modified construction of the igniting tape. Fig. 6is cross-sections Vand T, taken respectively on hnes V and T of Fig. 5on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line V of a furtherdetail modification of the construction, shown in Fig; 5 on an enlargedscale. Fig. 8 is a graphic illustration. of the application of myigniting tape to the blasting fuses of a round of shots in a mine tunnelor drift. Fig. 9 is adetail, enlarged scale illustration, showing thepreferred method of attaching the igniting tape to the split end of the.ordinary powder-core blasting fuse.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.1 v

It will be understood that to roduce this igniting tape 'as acommercially valuable article of manufacture, a method of con- I throughthe'fracture which effect the rapid 55 1. Fig. 3 is a cross- 85- sectionon line yI-y Fig.1 on an enlarged scale.- Fig. 4 is a plan view of thecorretinuous-process, automatic machine manufacture must be resorted to,and in describof light texture, cotton cloth,

. the full width o ing the detail features of composition andconstruction of the tape, reference will be made to the detail parts ofsuch machines,

only so far as is necessary to give a clear and conclse description ofthe detail con-' struction of the tape, since a description of suchmachine construction is intended to entirely sepaform the subjectmatter, of an rate and distinct application.

Referring to Fig. 1, I show the tubular tape 2, being continuouslyproduced by the uniformlypitched s iral winding, 2, of the combustiblycharge ribbon 3. This ribbon is made of any suitable material, as cloth,

paper, etc. As a matter of economic production, I prefer .to use acommercial brand woven, a slightly open mesh b.-ing best adapted to myrequirements By any best adapted method as brushing, rolling, spray ing,etc. I char e or coat about three-fourths one side of the ribbon as 3with an inflammable compound, the remaining uncoated strip 3', (beingthe followingedge of the spiral wind) being th rymg portion of theribbon. ThlS coated ribbon may .be paid out from the usual constructionof revolubly mounted reel 10, and thereby spirally wound upon a fixed,end- .tapered arbor or mandrel 12, with the inflammably c'oated side disosed upon the inner side of the spiral tu bo.

2, 3, 4 and 9. e adhesive paste is applied,

.from any conyenient receptacle 14, revolu bly mounted to rotate inunison with the reel 10 immediately in advance of the closing sipiralWind, (ried by bei assed through "a conveniently arrange I'ying box 15.The s iral tube is strip ed from the fixed mandre by carrying rol ers13, taper end of the same. These rollers also serve as flattening rolls,ressing the spiral tube into the forinof a this manner does not sealInasmuch as the engaging inner surfaces of the combustibly charged tubeare of a dry,

mlnutely-particled, anulous nature. This flattened shape of t e. permitsof winding the same into a comparatively compact mass,

when reelin it into packages for the market. Prece ing this reelingprocess, however, the flattene tape 2, immediately after leaving thewinding not too closelye paste car- A tape of i greater explosivestrength may be produced,

a longitudinally disposed' erture, 2", as shown in Figs. 1

as at 3, and is immediately arranged adjacent the at tubular tape as Thefiattentubular igniting tape in a predetermined order, to effect thebreakcult of igniting tape arbor and flattening rolls is subjected to.any suitable method of coating the exterior surface with a waterproofingcompound, as for exam 'le, immersing the same in a vessel of liquiclcoating, (not shown) being carried through the solution b conveniently(11sposed guide rollers, "an' if necessary.- then passed through dryingchambers, (not shown) and subjected to enforced drying, permitting thecontinuous-process production, from which last treatment, it is carriedto the reeling process above referred to.

- n 5 I show a modified construction of the tubular igniting tape,wherein the ribbon 5 paid out directly from a fixed bearing reel 10, androlled transversely, into the hollow, longitudinal tubular form 4, bydrawing the ribbon through a suitably constructe spiral forming die 16,or by other suitable means disposin the inflammably coated edge 5, ofthe r1 bon, within the outer, lapping paste-char ed ed e 5*, as is shown1n cross section in i 6%. This tube is then flattened by suitab ecarryin rolls, as shown in lan view at 4 Fig. 5, an in cross section inig. 6 T. This form of tubular igniting tape may be roduced, withincreased 8X5 plosive strengt by transversely rolling, by suitablemeans, an imflamma 1y charged ribbon, of properly increased width', intoa double-lapped, hollow, lon 'tudinal tube, as shown in cross section inig. 7, and then rolled into a fiat tubular tape, as also shown in crosssection in this figure.

In Fig.8 I show the methodof applying the raplcl burnin explosive,tubular igniting tape, when used in firing a round of blasting fuses ina mine tunnel. It is desirable 1n practice to fire the several chargesing of the rock to the best advantage, as for example the center cut ouA,A,Ashould be fired first. The sides%, next and so on. Any' desiredorder of firing can be controlled to a certainty by cutting the blastingf-uses accordingly, as to their lengfi hs in the respective groups,those to fire st as A, A, A having the shortest cut fuses, an those nextin order, B, B having the fuses cut slightly longer, with a uniforminterval of increasing length, for the fuses of each succeedin grou nextin order to be fired, as C, C, and D, D. The tape flashing it's circuitwith instantaneous rapidity, practically i ni'tes all fuses to which itis attached simu taneously,, their varying lengths determining the orderof firing the charge of each. By this method of, ignition a materialsaving of blasting-fuse is efi'ected, as compared with the lengths offuses required for safety when igniting by candle or torch, in lieu ofthe circonsumed. The igniting tape, however, bein the cheaper commerciacommodity, afiords the miner a more economic method of mining, enablessnaps him to break rock to better advantage and assures him a reaterdegree of safety in the safety, I interpose, for his protection, the useof anecessary length of the ordinary slowburning blasting fuse E, whichis attached to the igniting tape 2 .at any convenient point. The minerignites this fuse only, at the free end E and while it is slowly burningits length to the end attached to the igniting tape, he is affordedample time to remove to a Iplace of safety before the explosion occurs.T e fire from the time fuse E i nites the tape 2, which instantlyflashes its lgniting flames in both directions, as. indicated by thearrows in Fi 8, firing all the fuses to which it is attache From theabove description, showing clearly the utility of the i niting tape incontrolling the firin of powder charges in mine blastin those s 'lled inthe art will readily compre end the advantages to be gained by usingthis article as a quick match in igniting the set pieces, etc, offireworks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 1 g.

1. The herein described process of forming an igniting deviceconsistingin appl 'ng an inflammable coating toone surface a strip ofmaterial, also applying a coating of adhesive material toa portion ofthe same surface of the strip, and forming the said strip into a tubewith the inflammable coat' inner--- most and with the portion having t eadhev v sive coating overlapping whereby the tubular form is maintainedand finally flattening the device thus formed. 1

' 2. An igniting tape composed of a strip of material coated on onesurface with an inflammable substance and having an edge overlappingortion or part coated with an adhesive su stance, the said strip beingspirally wound to conceal the inflammable substance whereby, the portioncontaining the adhesive substance is made to overlap the body of-thestrip on the outside, the device being flattened for the purpose setforth. 3. An igniting tape com osed of a strip of material coated on onesi e with an inflammable substance and also havin a portion of the same.surface coated with a hesive mate rial and spirally wound to protect theinflammable coated surface.

v 4. An igniting device composed of a strip of material coated on onesurface with an inflammable substance and also havin a portion of thesame surface coated wit adhesive material, the same being spirally woundto'lprotect the inflammable coated surface an flattened for the purposeset forth.

. 5. A process of forming an ignitin device, consisting in a plying aninflamma 1e coat ing to one .su ace of a strip of material and a plyingan adhesive coating to a portion of t 'e same surface, forming the saidstrip into a tube and applying to the exterior of the latter aWaterproofcoatingr In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presenceof two witnesses.

ARTHUR T. HERR.

Witnesses DENA NELsoN, MAI GAW'LEY.

